USABILITY, ACCEPTABILITY, AND FEASIBILITY OF A REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR RURAL-DWELLING AFRICAN-AMERICANS - Abstract

Sep 29, 2026

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Examines how a remote monitoring system can be deployed in the homes of cognitively healthy rural-dwelling African Americans, focusing on usability, acceptability, and feasibility. Ten homes in a southeastern state were equipped with seven sensors/smart devices for up to three months. One-time and weekly online surveys collected demographic, technology-use, and health/home occupancy change data, followed by 30-minute interviews. Descriptive and thematic analyses identified satisfaction with passive design, ease of use, limited barriers, openness to continued monitoring with health decline, and routine sensor data supporting health maintenance. Feasibility was supported by sensor data collection across more than half the installed days, with implications for culturally appropriate, community-informed design.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Background and Purpose

Methods

Results

Implications

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1021 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3443 USABILITY, ACCEPTABILITY, AND FEASIBILITY OF A REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR RURAL-DWELLING AFRICAN-AMERICANS Otis Owens1, Zachary Beattie2, Nicole Sharma2, Don Campbell3, Thomas Riley2, Jon Yeargers3, Larry Frye3, and Jeffrey Kaye2, 1. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States, 2. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States, 3. Life Analytics Incorporated, Woodside, California, United States 1022 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Background and Purpose: This study examined the usability, acceptability, and feasibility of deploying a remote monitoring system in the homes of cognitively healthy rural-dwelling African Americans. Methods: Ten homes in a southeastern state were outfitted with seven sensors/smart devices for up to three months. A‘one-time’ survey was distributed online to collect demographic and technology use data. A ‘weekly’ online survey was also distributed to assess changes in health and home occupancy. Thirty-minute interviews were conducted at the study’s conclusion. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Feasibility was determined by the percentage of days data were collected across all sensors. Results: Participants, on average, were 72 years old, married, had a college or higher education, and owned a smartphone. Themes emerging from interviews related to technology-use satisfaction, ease of technology use, barriers to technology use, openness to remote monitoring, perceived usefulness of remote monitoring for others, and data usefulness. Overall, users were satisfied with the system, especially its passive nature and ease of use. Some, but few, barriers existed to system use (e.g., remembering to weigh) . Participants were open to continuous remote monitoring if their health declined. All participants thought receiving sensor data routinely would support their health maintenance. Suggestions for system improvement will be presented. Data across sensors was continuously collected over half of the days installed. Implications: Remote monitoring may be culturally-appropriate for empowering rural-dwelling African Americans to age-in-place, but these systems should be easy-to-use and designed with community input.

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study?

To examine the usability, acceptability, and feasibility of deploying a remote monitoring system in the homes of cognitively healthy rural-dwelling African Americans.

How was feasibility measured?

By the percentage of days data were collected across all sensors during the installation period.

What did participants report about the system?

Participants were generally satisfied, found the system easy to use—especially its passive nature—and believed routine sensor data would support their health maintenance.

Sep 29, 2026

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